Blue Christmas

Chapter 5

The pair spent the evening relaxing properly for the first time Dream had landed. They watched home alone with the steady crackle of the fire in hearth filling in the occasional silent moment. Fingers were buttery from popcorn, the scent of the treat intertwining with the smoke and the gentle scent of pine from the tree creating an air of comfort wrapped around the two. Dream's chest hurt from laughing at George's constant commentary on the movie, sarcastic quips and overly-critical comments which never failed to make Dream wheeze.

After, they settled down for bed. Through it was early, Dream was still a little jet-lagged, but nothing an early night couldn't cure. He did, admittedly, sleep a little better in the spare room than on the sofa. Once they woke up, after breakfast Dream thought it was time to plan the day.

"So, it's Christmas Eve." He started, sipping his tea and looking at George, who was sat on the other side of the kitchen table.

"I feel like you're about to propose a business deal or something."

"Oh come on now. Really?"

"Yes! Well then, tell me your idea then and I'll tell you if I'm going to invest." George put on a serious face, linking his hands together as they lay on the table and sitting up straight. He saw Dream looking rather confused and couldn't help but let out a giggle. "Dragon's Den?"

"Dragons- what?" He wheezed. "That's such a dumb name!"

"Dragon's den! It's a TV show, you know, like, there are businesses and the dragons who can fund the project... Not ringing any bells?" Dream only shook his head, amused. "Ok whatever, what were you saying again?"

"Plans today! Wilbur and Niki are down to come over and make ginger bread houses if you want?"

"Yeah that sounds fun!"

"Great! I'll tell them to come over in an hour or so. Is there a supermarket nearby? We could make the gingerbread but it might be easier if we just buy one of those kits... we could pick up food for tomorrow too!"

"Oh yeah there's one just down the road!"

"Let's go then!"

They grabbed their coats, walking down the road to the nearby Tesco.

"We could film the gingerbread-making for a video, if you want?" Dream asked as they looked through the shelves, which were relatively empty due to the time of year. "I don't mind wearing that paper mask again or maybe-or maybe I wouldn't wear one, I don't know."

"I think I'd rather not if that's okay... I want to enjoy the moment without worrying whether I'm being entertaining enough..." George trailed off, his voice earnest. "But only if that's okay with you! If you want to do it I'll do it, happily!" He added quickly.

"Nope no way if you don't want to do it we're not doing it."

"Are you sure?" 

"Of course! And besides, you don't need to try to be entertaining, George. You're always entertaining, even when you're not trying- especially when you're not trying." Dream reassured him, placing a soft hand on the shorter's shoulder. They were stood face-to-face, barely half a foot apart. Dream was sure if he just leaned in closer he would be able to feel George's gentle breath fan across his face, feel the heat radiating from his blushing body and maybe, just maybe, lean in even more. Dream tried to suppress what ever these thoughts intruding his perfect picture of just a friendship in his mind but they were too much, bombarding any semblance of the image he was keeping as it shattered just as quickly as he tried to keep it up and all he could focus on, the only thing he could think was how fucking perfect George's lips looked, a little cracked, rosy pink and parted as he let out breaths, slightly laboured and catching in his throat.

"You- you really think that?" George spoke, but it was more of a whisper. The words were private, only for Dream's ears in a supermarket packed full of people. He stepped a little closer, Dream letting his back fall flush to the shelf behind him. His head was going into over drive and it was all so much - too much.

"I- I do, yes! You are brilliant George, more than entertaining, so incredibly perfect." He murmured, their eyes locked conveying the feelings neither dared to say out loud.

"You think- you think that I'm perfect?" George stumbled over the words, struggling to force them to form in his mouth as his breath hitched and his mind was buzzing.

"I-"

"Oh my gosh, are you GeorgeNotFound?" The squeal broke them out of their trance, George stumbling back, dazed.

"I am- err hi?" George responded, his cheeks flushed red as he looked to Dream for reassurance, who hesitantly gave him a smile.

"I love your videos so much!" The voice came from a girl who looked in her early teens. She was short - much shorter than George, and had long, chestnut-brown hair, dressed in a familiar lime-green hoodie with a smiley face printed on. Her friend stood next to her, not speaking but seemingly just as enthralled by him.

"Oh- um thank you!" He was awkward and nervous but still sporting a genuine smile, happy to have met them.

"Sorry if this is too much, but could we possibly get a photo with you?" The other girl piped up, her voice a little shaky but filled with excitement.

"Yeah, sure! Of course... oh give me your phone, he can take it." George said, gesturing to Dream, who was lurking in the shadows of the bakery section behind them.

"I like your hoodie, by the way." Dream added quickly as he took the phone, watching their eyes widen even further if that was possible.

"Holy shit- you're Dream! I love your content so much too!" 

"Thank you so much! I'd rather not be in the photo if that's alright but I'll give you a hug if you'd like one?" Dream laughed as he took a few steps back, focused on the phone screen to get the best shot (or the best one could on Christmas Eve in Tesco). The two girls smiled next to George, who, much to Dream's amusement, tentatively put his arms around the pair, not entirely sure what was called for in this kind of situation. He didn't exactly go out much, so getting recognised was not an everyday problem. 

"Here you go!" Dream handed the phone back, opening his arms so that they could give him a quick hug. He looked over to George, who stood, discombobulated and maladroit as he watched the Floridian interact with the fans with ease, and flashed him a smile, before saying his parting words, telling them how grateful he was to have such great fans, and how much he appreciated the following he had accumulated, and before he knew it it was just him and George once again.

"You're so-" He took a second, letting out a hysterical wheeze before trying to compose himself. "You're so awkward" wheeze, "it's so cute!" Dream was, to put it simply, losing his shit. He didn't know what was so funny about it, but there he was, laughing his head off. 

"I wasn't that bad!" George protested, purposefully ignoring the latter part of Dream's sentence.

"No, it wasn't that bad, but you still looked like you'd never seen a teenage girl in your life!" Dream teased him.

"Sorry that not all of us are natural extroverts like you!" George sulked, but not without a smile.

"Well, I wouldn't have you any other way, Georgie." Dream told him once he finally managed to compose himself. "I think those are the Gingerbread house kits over there!"

A slightly shorter chapter, but I'm gonna try and bang 2 out tomorrow. Every time I write this it just gets longer and longer... to think I initially thought it was going to be 4-6 chapters! I'm having a great time writing it though, compulsory Christmas fic baking fluff next chapter! Once again, apologies for the lack of proof reading, I really ought to stop publishing chapters at 10pm and actually take the time to edit them lol

Artio <3